Craft's Aztecs are talk of town

SAN DIEGO -- Does anyone remember who San Diego State played in
its season opener?

After the Aztecs' incredible showing against No. 2 Ohio State on
Saturday, few will remember their win against Eastern Washington
two weeks ago.

SDSU's performance against the defending national champions, in
front of more than 105,000 hostile fans at Columbus, was a
marvelous display of football.

Despite the 16-13 loss to the Buckeyes, much of the talk around
the nation centered around San Diego State's performance. If ever a
team gained respect through a setback, this was it.

Considered a 31-point underdog, SDSU had twice as many first
downs (20-10) and outgained the Buckeyes 216-196 on offense. A
stellar defense limited Ohio State to just one third-down
conversion in 14 chances.

And the Aztecs did this without starting quarterback Adam Hall,
who was ably replaced by Matt Dlugolecki.

The accolades for the team and head coach Tom Craft are
continuing this week, as the Aztecs prepare for a game at Texas-El
Paso.

While SDSU's performance has created great local interest, the
school is finally getting some national exposure as well. Craft has
been on several national radio shows, and the school has received
approximately 35 e-mails from Ohio State fans complimenting the
Aztecs on how well they played.

These were not disingenuous comments. Craft picked up one e-mail
and shared it with a reporter: "Congratulations on giving us (Ohio
State) more than we could handle," wrote one Buckeye fan from
Dayton, Ohio. "I will be watching and hope you win your
conference."

It is a rare occasion when an opposing team receives such
respect, especially from a pompous Big Ten school.

"When we were leaving and driving through the streets, people
would point to our bus and give us a thumbs-up," Craft recalled
Tuesday. "It gives me goose bumps to think of it."

Ohio State fans know they were lucky to escape with a victory.
If ever a team was ripe for the picking, it was the Buckeyes.

Who would have thought San Diego State would come close? The
Aztecs looked unimpressive in beating Eastern Washington 19-9. In
fairness to Craft, he lost Hall, who threw for more than 3,200
yards a year ago, with a high ankle sprain in the first half.

What really set the tone against Ohio State was a defense that
limited a ground-oriented team to just 120 yards rushing. True, the
Buckeyes did not have Maurice Clarett, their fine running back who
doesn't believe in going to school or filling out theft reports
correctly. Still, you'd think that a Big Ten school would have more
than one stud running back.

SDSU defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer rotated in as many as
nine linemen and six cornerbacks or safeties to keep the Aztecs
fresh. Linebacker Kirk Morrison (seven tackles), defensive end
Brandon Rager (four tackles, two for losses) and defensive back
Jacob Elimimian (an interception that led to SDSU's touchdown) were
outstanding.

The Aztecs did not allow an Ohio State offensive touchdown. The
key play of the game, the one that cost SDSU the victory, was a
tipped pass at the goal line that Ohio State's Will Allen returned
100 yards for a score.

Instead of being ahead 14-3 at the time, the Aztecs trailed
10-7.

It was a perfect time to give up, but the Aztecs didn't. They
trailed 13-7 at the half and, as Craft noted, "We outscored them
6-3 in the second half."

So why didn't SDSU fold? The answer comes from a defense that
returns nine starters and has other talented players who are seeing
as much field time as the starters. They are currently ranked
fourth in the nation, giving up an average of 206.5 yards per
game.

"Our defense offers us balance," said Craft, who is fielding an
extremely young offense.

With Hall out, the Aztecs do not have one skilled player who is
a senior.

"We have six or seven new guys on offense and it shows," said
Craft.

Give Craft time, and he will have the offense in high gear.

And with it comes increased interest. After his side's gutsy
showing against Ohio State, people are beginning to notice the
Aztecs more.

But Craft understands it could all go south if his club loses at
UTEP. When you consider that this road game will be played before
25,000 fans and not 100,000, it should concern him.

"There might be more than a psychological challenge to this
game," Craft said.

But he offered a warning to his team: "The Ohio State game will
not mean much if we don't follow it up and improve. If we do have a
successful season, then people can look back at the effort and say
it was for real."

This could end up being a very interesting month. A win at UTEP
and against Samford -- a tiny school from Alabama -- the following
week would put the Aztecs at 3-1 going into the Rose Bowl on Sept.
27 against UCLA.

Suddenly, this schedule looks very entertaining and
interesting.

Steve Scholfield is senior sports columnist for the North County
Times. He can be reached at (760) 740-3509 or
scholf@nctimes.net.